He said if it were not for the victim's friends and emergency services, "you would have been in the dock today facing a murder charge".

If he had killed the victim, he could have faced at least 25 years under a life sentence.

Detective Inspector Sarah Robinson, the senior investigating officer from Cleveland Police, said today: “This was a horrific premeditated attack which saw the victim stabbed multiple times and left him fighting for his life.

"If it wasn’t for the quick actions of those who administered first aid, he would not be here today.

"He was also left with life-changing injuries meaning that he now cannot carry out his work."